Arthritis NZ is committed to putting arthritis onto the agenda of key decision-makers. We aim to persuade government, health providers and other organisations to provide the resources and support to prevent and treat arthritis, and to actively support people affected by arthritis. We ask that they do this through health interventions (eg. medical and allied health), financial and educational interventions and wellbeing support so people with arthritis, their families and whānau, can live well in their communities. 

We partner with our consumers and other stakeholders to address inequities in healthcare for people living with arthritis and to create positive change in our consumers’ lives. Addressing health inequities requires healthcare providers, organisations, and communities to act together to explore and create opportunities for positive impacts on health and social supports.

We develop evidence-based materials and communicate our position on key policies, legislation and practices that directly affect people affected by arthritis and who engage with service providers. 

• All information used to support advocacy initiatives must be referenced to accurate and reputable sources. 
• Consumer voices should be evident in all advocacy initiatives. 
• Our advocacy is holistic and covers all issues that impact on people with arthritis such as access to healthcare, employment, Work and Income, NASC assessments, and housing. 

People affected by arthritis are directly impacted by the availability and standard of health services throughout New Zealand. One of our advocacy roles is to ensure people are well informed and able to become effective self-advocates in the health system

The following are significant issues our advocacy has been focusing on: 

Management of osteoarthritis

For many people surgery is the option they are most familiar with, but there is also a non-surgical pathway. This pathway has an emphasis on providing physiotherapy and helping to ensure that your osteoarthritis does not get worse if you are waiting for surgery. Read about this here

This approach is not consistently available in all regions. To find out what is available in your region, call Arthritis Assist, who will provide local information about this non-surgical pathway. You can also read Coral’s story, who found this pathway highly beneficial below.

For some, surgery is a necessary option, and we know that this can take a long time and cause significant stress. We advise consumers to keep records of appointments and their discussion points and note dates.  

The current target for accessing specialist care is 95% of patients receiving their first specialist assessment in four months. It is common for this to take longer. If you are waiting more than six months, call our Arthritis Assist team on 0800 663 463 to discuss your situation. 

Read the story about Janine, a consumer who had to wait longer than she should have below:

Management of gout

Gout is one of the most inequitable long-term conditions in Aotearoa New Zealand. We advocate for earlier diagnoses, better treatment access, stronger community support, and consistent care across the health system.

Driving equity and integrated care  

We are driving system-level change and closing the equity gap particularly for Māori and Pacific communities, who carry the highest burden of gout.  Arthritis NZ is targeting gout equity initiatives across South Auckland, Tairāwhiti, Wellington/Porirua, and the West Coast. We collaborate with primary care, pharmacists, specialists, iwi, health and community providers, and sector partners. Through these initiatives we aim to: 

• Improve access to treatments: Support low-barrier clinical pathways that prioritise preventative care, specifically urate-lowering therapy (ULT), over reactive flare management. This includes pharmacy-led care, cultural safety among health professionals, and removing financial and geographic barriers. 
• Break down stigma and myths: Reframe gout as a manageable metabolic condition rather than a lifestyle fault. Promote consistent messaging across the health system. 
• Empower whānau: Deliver culturally responsive education and accessible information so people have the knowledge and confidence to manage their own health. 

Reclassification of Allopurinol

A significant milestone has been the reclassification of allopurinol, which enables pharmacists to play a greater role in gout treatment. Arthritis NZ continues to advocate for this change to be implemented safely and equitably, with culturally grounded support and clear referral pathways between pharmacists, general practice and specialist services. 

Collaborative partnerships for long-term conditions

Gout rarely exists in isolation and frequently overlaps with other chronic health challenges. We are proud to collaborate with: 

• Health15: Health15 - a worksite health and wellbeing initiative to integrate gout awareness, early screening, and health education into workplaces 
• Heart Foundation, Diabetes NZ, and Stroke Aotearoa: developing a Level 3 Certificate in Long-Term Conditions to upskill healthcare workers, whānau and others to build a response to chronic illness, including those living with gout. 

Growing our evidence base

An evidence base is being developed through evaluation, research partnerships and community insights, including workplace productivity research, whānau surveys and programme evaluations. These insights inform programme design, strengthening advocacy and supporting investment-ready propositions for long-term sustainability and national impact. 

Navigating the health system can be difficult for consumers. One of the organisations that we may refer people to is the Health and Disability Commission. Its role is to promote and protect the rights of people using health and disability services. It is responsible for ensuring that consumers' rights are respected under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights https://www.hdc.org.nz/your-rights/about-the-code/code-of-health-and-disability-services-consumers-rights/  

If consumers need support in accessing their consumer rights or are considering making a complaint, we may link them to the Health and Disability Advocacy Service. 

We recently made submission on: 

Health and Disability Commission Long term strategy in 2024 - HDC Submission July 31 2024.docx   

Health and Disability Commission Advocacy Guidelines in - 2026  Health and Disability  Commission Advocacy Guidelines submission June 2026.docx 

Both submissions highlight the role of community-based health organisations, such as Arthritis NZ, in helping consumers raise and resolve complaints at an early stage. An appendix outlines a case history of a consumer complaint made to us. 

People with arthritis do not always recognise their condition as a disability, but it is increasingly recognised as a significant cause of disability that affects tasks such as bathing and dressing, preparing food, looking after children, the ability to work, using public transport and accessing places such as medical surgeries which are upstairs. 

Our recent Arthritis Confidence Index: Voices of the Community research, which we conduct annually, showed us that 73% of people who completed the survey identified as disabled. 

We have met with Whaikaha (Ministry of Disabled People) and also made a submission on their disability strategy- NZ Disability Strategy 2025 

Following input from Arthritis NZ and others, Ministers have completed a review of the scheme. They have decided to:

• adopt a national purpose statement to guide how Total Mobility operates
• ask NZTA to review funding settings for wheelchair accessible vehicles, including the per-trip payment
• ask NZTA to review provider standards and safeguards, including whether they are suitable for a wider range of providers
• ask officials to develop a proposal for a national public transport concession for Total Mobility users, including a free companion fare.

Ministers decided not to progress proposals to introduce universal documentary evidence requirements, mandatory periodic reassessments, or nationally mandated trip caps. These would create additional barriers for disabled people and older people, and add cost and complexity for users, assessors and scheme administrators.

Read our submission here TM submission March 2026.docx 

This is a long-standing issue. The most recent national research specifically examining rheumatologist numbers in New Zealand is a study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal in October 2025: 

“Rheumatology services in Aotearoa New Zealand - do they meet Arthritis NZ/New Zealand Rheumatology Association–endorsed service standards?” by Grainger, Milne and Dalbeth. [nzmj.org.nz] 

Key findings from that study: 

• Data was collected from all 16 public rheumatology services in New Zealand (100% response rate). [nzmj.org.nz] 
• The study found 34.35 FTE rheumatologists employed in Health New Zealand rheumatology services in 2023. [nzmj.org.nz] 
• Based on the endorsed benchmark of 1 rheumatologist per 100,000 population, New Zealand would have required 51.24 FTE rheumatologists, indicating a significant workforce shortfall. 
• The authors updated staffing information through June 2025, noting increases in rheumatologist staffing in Wellington and MidCentral–Whanganui between 2023 and 2025. 

The national shortage of rheumatologists continues to be an issue, particularly for people who live in areas such as the West Coast and Northland.

The process at Pharmac has been a source of concern for consumers for some years and in 2026 Pharmac undertook a programme to rectify long standing issues such as:

• the length of time it can take for applications to go through the Pharmac application process
• perceived unfairness and inconsistency of decision making  
• consumer unhappiness at a lack of voice in the decision-making process 

In 2025, Pharmac convened a Consumer and Patient Working Group to consider these issues. That Working Group has now ended, and Pharmac is working on the next steps in improving their policies and procedures. We have been active in this working group and will continue to monitor progress. Read our recent submissions here: 

Submission to Pharmac supporting medication changes - Nov 2025.docx  Written to support the New Zealand Rheumatology Association who supported these medication changes proposed by Pharmac. These medication changes were approved. 

Pharmac OFI proposal November 2025.docx 

Options For Investment (OFI) are applications that have been approved but not yet funded. A number of health groups, including Arthritis NZ, were opposed to the proposal to cut a percentage of applications on the OFI. Pharmac decided not to pursue it. 

Exceptional Circumstances Framework Review- Pharmac 2026.docx 

This framework can only be initiated by clinicians. There is concern that the framework is inconsistent and lacks transparency. This submission is part of a 2-stage process. Pharmac will consider all submissions and formulate a new Framework proposal that will go out to further consultation. 

We engaged with the Pharmac Annual Tender process and ran a consumer survey asking how people felt about brand changes by Pharmac and how trust in this process could be improved. Read our submission, which includes results of this survey. 

Submission on 2026 Pharmac Annual Tender.docx 

We are a member of the Carers Alliance which works to improve recognition of the important role of carers. We made submissions on the draft Carers Strategy and the government's Disability Support Services Bill, which strongly support recognition of carers as advocated by the Carers Alliance. Read them here 

Arthritis NZ Carers Strategy -submission March 2026.docx 

Disability Support Services submission June 2026.docx  

We closely monitor issues and opportunities to make submissions and meet with MPs, particularly those who sit on the Health Select Committee. We have met with the Minister, discussed issues with his advisors and will continue to do so.  

We usually ask to make verbal submissions when we submit to Select Committees. 

During election years, we encourage supporters to contact candidates directly about issues affecting people with arthritis. 

Read our submissions to select committees. 

Management of gout to the Health Select Committee in 2025 HSC submission from Arthritis NZ May 2025.docx 

Changes to the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill 2026 HSC submission on Healthy Futures Bill.docx  

Casino Online Gambling Bill. This submission was made because of the likelihood that online gambling would reduce the funding available to gaming funds in this country leading to a reduction of money to community groups. Arthritis New Zealand submission on Online Casino Gambling Bill.docx 

Disability Support Services Bill- see Caring for people with arthritis to view this submission. 

We monitor, make comment on or can guide people on:

• Access to medicinal cannabis - our current position is in this 2020 submission-Link to submission already on advocacy pages- 
• Employment - see information for employees and employers here 
• Home and Community Support Services (HCSS)- to help older people, disabled people, and those with long-term health needs to live independently at home through a combination of personal care, household assistance, health support, equipment, and carer services funded primarily by Health New Zealand and Whaikaha. Access to this support can be limited depending on your personal circumstances eg income, age, family situation, the extent of disability and whether you are asking for personal cares (such as showering) or support with daily tasks such as vacuuming and meal preparation. Eligibility is determined by a Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) assessment. You can find your local NASC here https://www.nznasca.co.nz/find-your-local-nasc/
• Housing - people with arthritis who are renting accommodation may ask for support advocating for a more accessible rental. For example, they may be trying to cope with stairs and not able to access all spaces in their accommodation or they may have a front door up a steep incline that they struggle to walk up. 
• Working to help people navigate WINZ policy and procedures

Arthritis NZ prepares and submits submissions to the Health Select Committee to advocate for better services and outcomes for people with arthritis in New Zealand.